Nevada vs SMU Betting Preview and Prediction | Aug 24

Both Nevada and SMU have plenty of new challenges to look forward to in 2024. Nevada is welcoming in a new head coach, while SMU transitions to a new conference. Let’s take a dive into this Week 0 contest in Reno where the Wolf Pack have opened as a sizable underdog.

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Nevada vs SMU Preview

Venue	Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nevada
Game Time	8pm ET / 5pm PT
Television	CBS Sports Network
Point Spread	SMU -25
Total	56 Points
Weather	Clear with Temps in the Mid 60s

2023 Results and Betting Trends

Nevada went 2-10 straight-up, 6-6 against the spread last season. The Wolf Pack closed as a double-digit underdog eight times last year and went 5-3 against the spread in that role. SMU was 11-3 straight-up, 8-6 against the spread last season. The Mustangs were a double-digit favorite ten times in 2023, and went 7-3 against the spread in that role.

SMU Mustangs

Let’s start in Dallas where the Mustangs are looking to make a big splash in the ACC. Just how serious is SMU treating this move to a Power Four conference? The Mustangs will not receive television money from the ACC for the next nine years. Not only did SMU have to pay a $10 million exit fee to the AAC, the Mustangs will essentially become a self-sufficient athletic program for the next decade, relying on hundreds of millions of dollars from boosters to fund its teams instead of media rights money from the conference.

SMU’s splash on the national scene began four years ago when blue-chip quarterback Preston Stone chose the Mustangs over Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Ohio State and a slew of others. Stone led the AAC in passing efficiency last season, but a broken leg ended his campaign in late-November. Stone will have plenty of familiar faces to work with this season as the Mustangs return 76-percent of their production from last season, ranking top-20 in the country in returning production on both offense and defense.

Nevada Wolf Pack

In Reno, former Texas defensive coordinator Jeff Choate gets his first shot at leading an FBS program. Known as a defensive mind, summer camp reports suggest that the Wolf Pack offense is a little farther along than Choate’s defense. Nevada returns 64-percent of its offensive production from last year (top-60 in the country). It’s certainly fair to question, “How many players do you really want to return from a 2-10 football team?” but nonetheless, they have a baseline to work with. Quarterback Brendon Lewis will get the nod after starting ten games last season. Offensive coordinator Matt Lubick has provided inspiration to the team as he continues to coach while currently battling leukemia.

From a philosophy and regime standpoint, there’s reason for optimism in Reno. Choate led some very good Montana State teams in the late 2010s. Lubick has been a part of some great programs in recent years, and has helped lead Kansas’ offensive resurgence over the last couple seasons. There is reason to believe that better days are ahead in Reno. But in Week 0 of the 2024 college football season, Nevada has one of the worst rosters in the country. The Wolf Pack have gone 2-10 in back-to-back seasons, and a lot of those players are still in the program. 247Sports ranks Nevada’s class of incoming freshman and transfers outside the top-90 in the country.

Nevada vs SMU Prediction

With a healthy Stone at quarterback last season, SMU scored 55 points on its own four times in 12 games. Any help that Nevada can give us on the scoreboard is a welcomed bonus because the Mustangs can probably flirt with this total on their own. A first-year coach in his first game usually means that the team will give him a good effort for 60 minutes. Expect the Wolf Pack to make a small contribution to the final tally. Recommended Play: Over 56 Points

GoldSheet College Football Preview

The GoldSheet team has assembled a FREE 60-page college football guide to help you get ready for the 2024-25 NCAAF season. We break down every schedule from every team with projected point spreads, win probabilities and much more. Stay up-to-date on coaching moves, quarterback transfers and conference re-alignment with this complimentary download.

NCAAF Team Previews

Here are the top-25 (actually, 27) teams in our opening power ratings for the 2024 college football season:

1) Georgia	T11) Missouri	T21) Arizona
2) Ohio State	T11) Oklahoma	T21) USC
3) Oregon	T11) Texas A&M	T23) Auburn
4) Alabama	T14) Clemson	T23) Washington
5) Texas	T14) Florida State	T23) Iowa State
6) Penn State	16) Tennessee	T23) TCU
7) Michigan	17) Kansas State	T23) Oklahoma State
8) Ole Miss	T18) Louisville
9) Notre Dame	T18) Utah
10) LSU	T18) Miami (Fla)

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen

WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the point spreads, moneylines, totals and betting percentages through every week of the college football season. Oh yeah, you can also find free college football picks and predictions!

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